Obituary of Thomas Albert Shiers

SHIERS, Thomas Albert, 99, Three Mile Plains, died peacefully in his sleep Sept. 29 at Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Hospital, Halifax. A hard-working family man, passionate union and community leader and courageous soldier, Dad was a man of principle, who generously gave far more than he took. A tough negotiator who never backed away from a challenge, he especially enjoyed a fight with the odds stacked against him and he lost very few. Born in Gypsum Mines, the eldest child of the late Al and Annie (Caldwell) Shiers, he left school at a young age to help support his family, He married Kathleen "Duds" Chambers and they spent the next 75 years together, raising three children in a home that was open to all. Dad had a varied career, starting off as a farm labourer. As a young man, his hobo-inspired, cross-country train trek came to an abrupt and frigid end in northern New Brunswick where he worked the winter in a lumber camp. He worked in other camps and mines and became a welder by trade. He volunteered to serve in the Second World War. He turned down a promotion that would have meant he remain in England to run a welding shop, choosing instead to cross the English Channel with the rest of his Royal Canadian Engineers regiment. He was a sapper, landed on Juno Beach and fought his way across France and Belgium. He became a Holland Liberator and ended the war in Germany. His knack for finding family and friends in every field, trench and town in Europe led his Ontario-born Engineer buddies to joke that there wasn't any Nova Scotian serving in Europe he didn't know. They may have been right. When he returned home, he became active in the trade union movement. He attended many conferences and meetings, but a highlight was his invitation to the Thinkers Lodge in Pugwash. He was president of the Nova Scotia Quarry Workers' Union Local 294 and an executive member of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour. He went to work for the Toronto Newspaper Guild in Ontario but came back to serve as the executive secretary of the Nova Scotia Civil Service Commission in its formative years. He retired from the province's department of labour to spend time with family, working his hobby farm, hunting and fishing. He continued to lend his expertise to unions and employee associations across the country and became a councillor for the Municipality of West Hants. He was a master mason with St. John's Lodge No. 2 in Halifax and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9 in Windsor. Dad was opinionated and stubborn. He was also a great storyteller, with a quick wit, a sharp mind and a mischievous grin which won him admirers all of his life. He is survived by his son, William (Bill) and wife, Sandy, Moose Jaw, Sask.; daughter, Kelly Shiers, Three Mile Plains; brother, Owen and wife, Jessie; Tonge Hill; grandchildren, David (Sandra), Edmonton, Alta.; Stephen, Springhill; Kyle Williamson, Three Mile Plains; Billy, Jacksonville, Fla.; LoAnne (Sandy Smith), Elk Point, Alta.; Brett, Mark (Cheryl), Crystal (Kirby Froese), Christine (Todd Marasse), all of Moose Jaw, Sask; great-grandchildren, Kanon, Maddison, Makailah, Makencie, Emily, Abby, Katy, Ella; several generations of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased a year ago by his wife, Kathleen; son, Thomas (Tommy); grandson, Michael Williamson; sisters, Margaret Ettinger, Mary Swinamer; brothers, Frank Shiers, Johnny in infancy; half-brothers, Medford Lyon; Stewart Lyon in infancy. Arrangements are entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., PO Box 981 , Windsor, N.S. B0N 2T0. Everyone is invited to join the family at a graveside service for both Tom and Kathleen 1:30 p.m. Saturday, October 17 in Maplewood Cemetery, 1186 King St., Windsor with Rev. Tom Henderson officiating. A reception will follow at the funeral home's Elmcroft Reception Centre. Donations to St. Thomas Anglican Church, c/o 76 Old Halifax Rd. West, RR2 Windsor, N.S. B0N 2T0 or to a charity of your choice would be appreciated. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at the funeral home address or by visiting www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca